Where is "Pats" Quality Control?

[greg_g]

I looked at the items 70078 (Cat 1) and 70079 (Cat 2). Either Greenwell Manufacturing has outsourced, or Agri-Supply is selling knock-offs. Mine look just like those in the picture below (except a lot dirtier). Picture is from their website ( Home )

//greg//

 

[LetsRoll]

I would opt to say there not pats easy change hitchs. Take a look at the differnce in the two hitchs (picture below).

~EDIT~
Greg beat me to it.

 

[LetsRoll]

I will say those are not pats cause Pat would not drop his quality of work that he has worked so hard for, even for a lower price.

 

[BlacknTan]

Looking at the two side by side, I would agree.

The real Pat's look much higher quality!

To call the chinese knockoff "Pat's"... that is just deliberately misleading the consumer.

It never ceases to amaze me how low people will go to make a dishonest buck! Imagine if these folks put their "creativity" into an honest pursuit....

 

[thatguy]

They also dont have pats decal on them.. I cant wait to see how Agri-Supply responds to your call/email AND Id love to hear what Pat has to say to them for selling a knockoff..

Brian

 

[Bedlam]

Oh yes they are different. that side by side was great.lots of differences. and the label is missing. I have never seen them any other color than the Grey.I think the price difference was like 20 dollars? Sure not worth it.
But I have great praise for Agri supply. I hope this all comes out to light.
Al

 

[santacruzer]

I have always been the type of person to do my own projects due to the fact that I can't seem to find people who care about the quality of their work as I do. Many years ago I needed a customized trailer to haul ladders, equipment and vinyl siding materials. The prices that shops wanted to build to my specs were outrageous! I bought a flat bed trailer, a welder and some steel and that was it. I got what I wanted for a great price, a welder and learned how to weld on my own. I never hired anything done after that if there was any possibility of me doing it. I have thanks to the Lord become a successful businessman and have a remodeling company that has the contract for a major grocery chain and a Palm tree nursery / farm here in Florida. Like many of you, I had become very irritated with installing implements on my tractor. I looked at many "Quick Hitch" makes and decided to buy "Pats System". I purchased it from Agri-Supply (item#70078 $159.95). My time has become so valuable that this price is maybe 2 hours of my billing time. I coudn't build it that fast. I ordered it on 7-25 and it arrived 7-30 just as promised. (I thought this is a good thing). Then I opened the box and hadn't been so disappointed in many years. This product looks like it was built by first time blind laborers! Look at these pictures and you let me know what you think. The paint looks like it is from a spray can. There are several spots that there is NO PAINT, and do they know what primer is. Yes primer does make a major difference on steel. Weld spatter everywhere. The pin hole on one unit were so out of line the pin would not go through my arm. Yes I tried both sides, One fit both sides, the other fit neither.(Out with the Dremel) This is an extremely poor quality built product. I removed the spatter and runs and refinished it correctly after I had to straighten the arm hole alignment. What about grade 5 or 8 bolts. With the vibration and torque on these units I was not about to put that stress on the cheap grade bolts that came with Pats product.

suncoast,

I have never bought anything from "Pat's" nor do I even know the man. That said, I feel the reasonable thing for you to have done was to contact him or his company and talk to him about your problem and give the man a chance to clear up the complaints you have.

Bad mouthing him on a public "board" before talking to him and giving him a chance to correct this is out of line in my opinion.

As an astute businessman, as you have described yourself, you should be the last guy to do what you've done. There are a million reasons why things can "go bad"...

If "Pat" tells you to get screwed, then beat the crap out of the guy... until then treat him and others with a little respect and don't try to ruin them just because you think you can.

Paul J. Mulholand

 

[LetsRoll]

I emailed Pat regarding this thread and about Agri-Supply's website using his name on there hitch.

I see a patent infringement violation in order!!!​

Pats Patent​

United States Patent: 7059419​

United States Patent​

7,059,419​

Greenwell​

June 13, 2006​

[SIZE=+1]

Tractor hitch lift arm adaptor​

[/SIZE]

Abstract​

An adapter that converts a tractor hitch coupling from a ball and pin type to a hook type. The adapter is a tubular member having an opening at one end into which an end of the hitch arm is inserted and a hook extends therefrom at the opposite end. A locking dog is movably mounted on the tubular member for selectively blocking the entry or throat of the hook and a spring biases the locking dog to it's locking state. Each of a pair of spaced apart side walls have at least one set screw threaded there through. The set screws engage opposite side faces of the lift arm on which the adapter is mounted permitting variously adjusting alignment of the adapter relative to the hitch lift arm on which it is mounted.

 

[3RRL]

I don't think they are Pat's ECS either.
I own 2 sets of Pat's Easy Change and they are great. I met him at the Tulare Ag Fair this last Spring and bought a set from him personally. He is a very nice man and immediately gave me a discount below the "show price" after I introduced myself as 3RRL from TBN. Although I'd be interested to his response to this thread, I'm sure he will keep it low key because that's the kind of level headed individual he is.

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

good example

a buddy of mine has a tc35 and he was asking how i liked my pat's.....i told him they were worth the money......

he told me how northern hydraulics has "pat's"......i'm assuming these are knock-offs too.......being that he said they were $159.........i haven't looked though